Charges Include Solicitation of Murder, Kidnapping, Maiming, and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

Dozens
of members of a white supremacist gang allegedly responsible for
multiple acts of violence were charged in a superseding indictment
unsealed today in the Eastern District of Arkansas.

The indictment alleges that the New Aryan Empire (NAE) is a
racketeering enterprise, which committed violent acts—attempted murder,
kidnapping, and maiming—in support of its organization and its
wide-ranging drug-trafficking operation.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice
Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Cody Hiland for the
Eastern District of Arkansas, Special Agent in Charge Diane Upchurch of
the FBI Little Rock, Arkansas Field Office, Assistant Special Agent in
Charge Justin King of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Little Rock District Office and Acting Resident Agent in Charge Warren
Newman of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives
(ATF) Little Rock District Office, made the announcement.

“According to the allegations in the indictment announced today, New
Aryan Empire associates maintained their criminal enterprise by engaging
in multiple acts of violence — including kidnapping and attempting to
murder one informant, and stabbing and maiming two others suspected of
cooperating with law enforcement,” said Assistant Attorney General
Benczkowski. “I want to thank our federal, state, and local law
enforcement partners for vigorously investigating this vicious criminal
organization.”

The case, named “To The Dirt,” which is in reference to the NAE
slogan referring to the rule that members must remain in the NAE until
they die, began in 2016 when ATF assisted the Pope County Sheriff’s
Office in a murder investigation. The murder involved members of the
NAE, a white supremacist organization that began as a prison gang and
has since expanded beyond the prisons. Investigators learned that
several members of the NAE conducted meetings in Pope County and became
involved in methamphetamine distribution.

On Oct. 3, 2017, the grand jury handed down an indictment charging 44
people from the Pope County area with numerous gun and drug violations.
Since that indictment, one defendant­—Daniel Adame, 32, of
Russellville, Arkansas —has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute
methamphetamine. The superseding indictment, which was returned by a
federal grand jury on Feb. 5, 2019, named 11 additional defendants and
added charges for the defendants’ involvement in acts involving
attempted murder, kidnapping, maiming, and conspiracy to distribute
methamphetamine.

Thirty-five defendants are in either state or federal custody, while
16 were previously released on federal bond. Troy R. Loadholt, 37;
Jeffrey G. Howell, 34; and Amos Adame, 46, all from Russellville, remain
fugitives. April Howell, 29, and Amanda Rapp, 37, both of
Russellville, and Courtney Talley, 32, of Dardanelle, Arkansas, were
arrested Tuesday morning. Most of the defendants are residents of Pope
and Yell Counties, Arkansas.

“The violence and hatred alleged in this superseding indictment have
no place in society,” said U.S. Attorney Hiland. “We are committed to
helping our communities remain free from these types of crimes using
every resource available, including the powerful RICO statutes when
appropriate. The significant charges in this case represent the hard
work of our state and federal law enforcement agencies, and this
office’s commitment to removing violent, repeat offenders from the
streets.”

The superseding indictment alleges that between May 2014 and May
2016, NAE associates Marcus Millsap, 51, of Danville, Arkansas, and
James Oliver, 47, of Russellville, as well as NAE President Wesley
Gullett, 29, of Russellville, solicited several NAE members and
associates to murder the confidential informant responsible for Millsap
being charged with drug trafficking. According to the indictment, NAE
members believed this informant had provided information about Millsap
to law enforcement. In January 2016, two known members of NAE attempted
to murder the confidential informant, but were unsuccessful. The
superseding indictment further alleges that between May 28, 2017 and
June 6, 2017, members and associates of NAE kidnapped, stabbed and
maimed two individuals in retaliation for the individuals providing
information to law enforcement about another NAE member. During the
kidnapping, the victims were forced to write apology letters to the NAE
member and his girlfriend.

The indictment charges 17 of the 54 defendants with crimes under the
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and Violent
Crimes in Aid of Racketeering statute (VICAR). These racketeering-based
statutes provide criminal penalties up to life imprisonment for acts
performed as part of a criminal organization, and support charges for
those who only ordered or assisted others to carry out the illegal
acts. The superseding indictment alleges that from 2014 to the present,
the New Aryan Empire functioned as a criminal enterprise to achieve its
objectives, including illegal activities that affect interstate
commerce.

The charges in the superseding indictment include conspiracy to
violate RICO, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, maiming in aid of
racketeering, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering,
and attempted murder in aid of racketeering, as well as multiple
methamphetamine and firearm violations (see attachment for complete list
of charges and penalties).

“Today’s superseding indictment of over 50 people reflects the FBI’s
firm resolve to root out criminal organizations who espouse hate and
bigotry, and whose members sell drugs and commit violent acts such as
attempted murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault,” said FBI Special
Agent in Charge Upchurch. “We appreciate and applaud the steadfast
efforts of our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern
District of Arkansas, the ATF, DEA, Pope County Sheriff’s Office, Fifth
Judicial District Drug Task Force, Russellville Police Department,
Arkansas State Police, Conway Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection
Service, and FBI in arresting these individuals who are determined to
destroy our communities.”

In addition to the violent acts, law enforcement officials
investigated the NAE’s methamphetamine trafficking organization. During
the coordinated federal and state investigation, law enforcement agents
made 59 controlled purchases of methamphetamine, seizing more than 25
pounds of methamphetamine, as well as 69 firearms and more than $70,000
in drug proceeds.

“Historically, Aryan gang members and associates are a source of
drugs, violence, and crime throughout this region,” said DEA Assistant
Special Agent in Charge King. “Several members and associates of these
gangs are charged in a RICO conspiracy as a result of law enforcement
collaboration and a determined goal of making our communities safer from
gang violence and drug trafficking. This effort, as part of Operation
To The Dirt, is a promise to our citizens of the continued commitment of
law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels to keep our
streets safe.”

Wesley S. Gullett, 29, and Kevin M. Long, 23, both of Russellville,
Arkansas; Lesa A. Standridge, 54, of Dover, Arkansas; and Christopher S.
Helms, 35, of Dardanelle, Arkansas are charged with being a felon in
possession of a firearm. Among the 69 guns seized, include handguns,
rifles, shotguns, and several high-capacity assault-style rifles.

“These indictments are the result of an unprecedented collaboration
by the ATF, FBI, and DEA Little Rock Field Offices, Pope County
Sheriff’s Office, Russellville Police Department and 5th Judicial Drug
Task Force,” said ATF Acting Resident Agent in Charge Newman. “This
case reflects a major disruption of the New Aryan Empire organization
that affected the whole Arkansas River Valley area. As a result of this
collaborative effort, we have effectively dismantled this violent,
drug-dealing organization and sent a clear message that the ATF and our
law enforcement partners have an unwavering commitment to hold those
individuals accountable who insist on creating an atmosphere of violence
and fear in our communities.”

The three arrested today will be arraigned at 3 p.m. CST in federal
court in Little Rock, Arkansas before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth Deere.

The investigation was conducted by FBI, ATF, and DEA, in partnership
with the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, Fifth Judicial District Drug Task
Force, Russellville Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Conway
Police Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being
prosecuted by Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey of the Criminal
Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney
Liza Jane Brown of the Eastern District of Arkansas.

An indictment is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed
innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of
law.

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